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(R0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. MGLAREN.

REDUGING VALVE.

No. 393,020. v Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. MoLAREN. REDUCING VA VE.

No. 393,020. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

Mm w N. PETERS. Mlflhographlr. \llaihingion, D. C.

UNITE STATES PATENT Erica.

HENRY MOLAREN, OF LEEDS, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.

REDUCING-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,020, dated November 20, 1888.

Application filed January 10, 1888. Serial No. 260,833. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that HENRY MOLAREN, a subjeet of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Leeds, York county, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reducing-Valves, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements, fully set forth hereinafter, in that class of regulating devices used for reducing the pressure of a fluid passing from a pipe which supplies said fluid at a high pressure to another pipe or a reservoir in which the fluid is to be maintainedat a lower pressure; and my improvements consist of the arrangement of certain adjustable counterbalance devices in connection with a reducing-valve within a sealed case and of means for adjusting said devices when required from the exterior of the case.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a pressure-reducing device embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional plan view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a device illustrating a modification.

The valve-casing A is of any suitable shape and communicates through a branch, a, with the inlet-pipe and through a branch, I), with an outlet-pipe, and has a third braneh,f, within which operates a piston, plunger, or diaphragm, or other pressu re-balance, controlling, through a lever, B, and suitable connections, the action of the reducing-valve 0, having its seat around the inlet-port.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the pressure-balance is a sliding piston, 3, suitably packed and connected to a slotted rod or stem, having a cylindrical perforated end, h, that fits in a guiding-barrel, d, formed in the valve-casing. The lever 13 extends into the slot in the rod 9, and the other end is guided by a slot, y, in the end of the casing.

The reducing-valve G has the form of a hollow cone, receiving at its inner apex the rounded end of a spindle, 5,-which is pivoted so as to play and accommodate itself to the movements of the valve and lever without any side-thrust on the valve.

The lever B plays upon a movable fulcrum,

k, which may be adjusted to different positions by a rod, screw, rack, or other device extended to the outside of the casing and capable of being moved by the application ofpower I to its outer end. As shown, the fulcrum is a roller supported by a sliding carriage having its hearings on and guided by two parallel ribs, mm, within the casing, and the actuating device is a screw-rod, 7, extending through a nut, it, supported to slide without turning in the carriage, so that there will be no binding, friction, or wear'should the carriage fail to travel in a line exactly parallel with the axis of the screw. One end of the screw fits a seat in one head of the casing; the other extends through a suitable packing-box in the other head, and is provided with an actuating handle or wheel, or may have an angular head to receive a suitable key. The high pressure (which is to be reduced) enters through the port a into thecasing and acts upon the piston 3, which, by means of the lever B, closes the valve 0 against the high pressure and thus maintains within the casing and in the pipes connected therewith the pressure required. The position of the fulcrum it determines the said pressure-that is, if a low pressure is required the fulcrum is moved toward the center line of the valve 0, giving the piston S a greater leverage over the valve, and consequently a slightprcssure on the piston 3 is sufficientto close thevalve against the high pressure, cspeciallyif, as shown, the area of the piston exceeds that of the valve. If it is desired to increase the pressure in the valvecase, the fulcrum is moved toward the center line of the piston 3, reducing the leverage of the piston. Therefore a higher pressure is required in the casing to enable the piston 3 to close the valve 0 against the incoming pressure. The slot y is proportioned to allow the valve 0 to lift asufflcient distance from its seat to admit a full head of pressure; but until this is attained the lever B rests in the end of the slot y and prevents the valve 0 from leaving the seating or getting out of place. The lever is also guided sidewise by the slot, so that it is kept in line with the fulcrum and valve.

The arrangement above set forth secludes the valve and pressure-balance and yet permits the adj ustmcnt ofthefulcrum,as required to regulate the pressure, while by the use of a screw-rod for adjusting the fulcrum the latter is locked normally in place until the rod is revolved. 4

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a modification embodying the same general elements as the device above described; but the counter-balance is a plunger-piston, 3, of the same diameter as thereducing piston-valve O,slidinginabranch, I), of the casing, the inlet-port a being closed by a valve formed on the end of the fulcrumrod 7 and the piston 3 sliding in a branch, 10, communicating with thewaste-pipe. The valve 0 is reduced to form a peripheral communication when the valve is depressed with a byway or side channel, 12, communicating with the outlet-port b, above and below the valve, as shown. The lever B, connecting the counter-balance, and val ve-rests onafulcrum,7c, carried by the rod 7. So long as the fulcrum Is on the rod B is midway between the counter-balance and valve they will be in equilibrium; but a movement of the fulcrum will change the relative pressures and the position of the reducing-valve.

I do not here claim the special arrangement of parts shown in Fig. 4, as these constitute the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent and are only shown here for the purpose of illustrating a modification embodying the general features of my invention.

It will be evident that the reducing apparatus above described may be used for reducing the pressure of different fluids.

I do not here claim any of the features shown and also claimed in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 260,384.

Without limiting myself to the precise arrangement and construction of parts shown and described, I claim- 1. In an apparatus for reducing pressure, a

casing communicating with the fluid-supply pipe and with an outlet-pipe, a reducing-valve arranged to control the admission of the fluid to the casing, alcver connected with said valve, a pressure-counterbalance also connected with said lever, and a movable fulcrum for said-lever, all of said parts being inclosed by the case, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a reducing-valve, lever, pressurecounterbalance, and seated casing having inlet and outlet openings inclosing said parts, and a movable fulcrum for said lever, and operating means for moving it from outside the case, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a sealed case having inlet and outlet openings, areducing-valve controlling the inlet-opening, a pressure-counterbalance connected with said valve by a lever, a movable fulcrum for said lever, and an operating-rod connected with said fulcrum and extending outwardly through a packed opening in the casing, substantially as described.

4. In adevice for reducing pressure, a sealed casing having inlet and discharge ports, a reciprocating piston filling an opening or socket in the casing, a reducing-valve adapted to open and close the discharge-port, and a lever connected with the stems of the piston and valve and resting upon a movable fulcrum, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the casing A, its in let and discharge ports, and valve fitted to the discharge, a piston fitting a socket in the casing and connected with the valve by a lever and a fulcrum for the lever, and adjusting devices for moving the fulcrum from outside .of the casing, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the sealed casing, inlet-port controlled by a reducing-valve, counter-balance connected therewith by a leverconneotion and a movable fulcrum, a nut con nected with said fulcrum, and a screw'shaft passing through said nut and turning in fixed bearings, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the sealed casing A, inlet-port, and discharge, reducing-valve, pressure counterbalance, and connecting -1ever, anda carriage resting upon guides within the casing and supporting the fulcrum of the lever, and a carriage-adj usting device, substantial] y as set forth.

8. The combination, with the casing, valve, pressure-balance, and lever, of a carriage sliding upon guides within the casing and pro vided with a fulcrum for the lever, a nut sliding in an opening in said carriage, and a screwshaft passing through said nut and turning in bearings within the casing substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY MOLAREN.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY S. LENTY, RAPHAEL GAUDIN, Clerks t0 1'. &.H. Greenwood Teale, Solicitors and Notaries Public, Leeds, England. 

